Regulating device for timepieces



June 23, 1942. w. KoHLHAGl-:N

REGULATING DEVICE FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Jan. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1June 23, 1942.

REG

w KOHLHAGEN 2,287,043

ULATING DEVICE FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Jan. 19, i940 5 sheets-sheet s June23, 1942 w. KOHLHAGEN REGULATING DEVICE FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Jan. 19,1940, 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,5. w, y w VM. ,w ha i an n e w ,/N W m ,Jmffwm,WN u '1 -m 7 wv Wu mm w mi u. 1 L www... .u1u4 H 0, nf Ol w /4 (7u m wim1 June 23, 1942. w KoHLHAGr-:N 2,287,043

l REGULATING DEVICE FOR TIMEPIECES Y Filed Jan. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet5 Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,043REGULATING DEVICE FOR TIMEPIEcEs Walter Kohlhagen, Elgin, nl.Application January 19, 1940, Serial No. 314,609

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in regulating-devices and moreparticularly to regulating-devices for time instruments such, forinstance, as clocks and watches, time-fuses, etc.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superiordevice of the character referred to, whereby timepieces may be rapidlyand accurately regulated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superiorregulating-device for timepieces wherein provision is made for testingand regulating the timepiece in a variety of positions, withoutrequiring the removal of the timepiece from the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superiorregulating-device whereby the operator is relieved of the need for anexcessive number of motions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aregulating-device adapted to receive a timepiece movement and providedwith superior means whereby the regulator of the timepiece may beengaged for subsequent operation in situ despite wide variations in thepositions of the regulators of various timepieces as the same aresequentially connected to the regulating-device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superiorregulating-device for timepieces in combination with an indicatorserving to indicate the rate of oscillation of the frequency of thetimepiece, in combination with means whereby the regulating of thetimepiece may be eiected while the observations of its performance arebeing noted.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear t those skilledin the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes allfeatures in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art andwhich are not claimed in any separate application. I

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a regulating-device for timepieccs embodyingthe present invention, and showing a watch-movement in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a .side view thereof mainly in side elevation and partly invertical central section;

Fig. 3 is a an end view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a similar View but showing the parts in the positions theyassume when the clampingngers are spread apart for the reception of theregulator pointer-arm of a timepiece;

Fig. 6 is a similar view but showing the regulating lever at the limitof one direction of its movement for eiecting the regulation of thetimepiece;

Fig. 7 is a broken view in vertical central section taken on the lineI-l of Fig. 1;

Fig, 8 is a broken view in vertical transverse section taken on the line8 8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the movementretaining lever detached;

Fig. 11 is a similar View of the slide-actuating arm;

Fig. 12 is a similar View of the actuatingor movement-transmitting slidelooking mainly at 4the under side thereof;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the impulseor beat-frequencyregulating-lever, detached;

Fig. 14 is a similar view of the cam-actuating bar;

Fig. 15 is a similar view of one of the cams together with itsclamping-finger mounted thereon; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the frequencyl .supporting-ring 23 withfreedom for rotation therein and extending beyond the lower edge of thesaid supporting-ring to a degree suiicient to permit a retaining-ring 24to be installed upon the outer periphery thereof. The retaining-ring 24is xedly secured to the body-member 2D by a set-screw 25 to thus, ineffect, cause the retaining-ring 24 to form a rigid unitary part of thebody-member 20. y

The supporting-ring 23 is provided at diametrically-opposite points withradially-extending pivot-pins 26 and 21 rigidly secured thereto topermit 'the supporting-ring 23, and hence the body-member 2U and theparts carried thereby, to be rotated about a substantially-horizontalaxis. The pivot-pins 2B and 21 just referred to, are supported by andrespectively have bearing in mounting-posts 28 and 29 upwardly extendingfrom and rigidly secured to a base-plate or -member 39. Mountedrespectively upon the pivot-pins 26 and 21 between the supporting-ring23 and the posts 28 and 29, are spacing-collars 3|-3I which serve tospace the body-member 20 in a central position laterally between theSaid mounting-posts. It will thus be seen, and as particularly wellshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, that the body-member is suspendedbetween the mounting-posts 28 and 29 for both axial rotational movementand for bodily rotation about a substantially-horizontal axisperpendicular to the axis about which the said body-member itself isrotatable in the supporting-ring. To facilitate the rotation of thebody-member 20 about a substantially-horizontal axis, the pivotpin 21 isextended beyond the outer face of the mounting-post 29 suiflciently tohave secured thereto a hand-wheel 32 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3.

Mounted upon the upper face of the head 2| of the body-member 20 is acover-plate 33 rigidly secured to the head 2| by means of screws 34 (seeFig. l). The cover-plate 33 just referred to, has, in turn, mountedthereon an L-shaped bracket 35 rigidly secured in place adjacent theouter periphery of the said cover-plate by means of screws 38, as isparticularly well shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Adjacent the outerend of the Vertical reach of the L-shaped bracket 35 is mounted amovement-retaining lever generally designated by the reference character31, and pivotally mounted for vertical movement intermediate itsopposite ends to the vertical reach of the L-shaped bracket 35, -bymeans of a pivotscrew 38.

At its outer end the retaining-lever 31 is provided with a ngerpiece 39while at its inner or opposite end the said retaining-lever is formedwith a cylindrical movement-retaining nose 40 adapted to yieldinglyengage the center-arbor 4l of a timepiece-movement to be regulated whichis generally designated by the reference character 42. Thetimepiece-movement 42 just referred to, may be of any usual form but, asshown particularly well in Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawings, the saidtimepiece-movement includes a front movement-plate 43 and a rearmovement-plate 44 held in spaced relationship parallel to each other bymeans of pillars 45.

Mounted substantially centrally of the coverplate 33 upon the outer orupper face thereof is a movement-positioning plate 46 secured in fixedrelationship to the cover-plate 33 by means of screws 41 as is clearlyshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The movement-positioning plate 46 isprovided in the outer face thereof, with a movement-positioning cavity48 corresponding in outline to the rear movement-plate 44 of thetimepiece-movementl 42. The movement-positioning cavity 48 is ofsuflicient depth to receive the rear movement-plate 44 of thetimepiece-movement 42 to thus correctly position or locate the saidtimepiece-movement for the purpose hereinafter to appear, and toproperly locate the center-arbor 4| of the said timepiece-movement withrespect to the movement-retaining nose 40 formed on the inner end of themovement-retaining lever 31, as previously described.

As has been previously pointed out, the retaining-nose 49 of themovement-retaining lever 31 is designed tobe yieldingly held inengagement with the outer end of the center-arbor 4I of thetime-piece-movement 42. For this purpose the movement-retaining lever 31is provided with a pin 49 projecting outwardly from one side thereof andaround which is hooked one end of a spring 59, the opposite end of whichis secured to a pin 5| projecting from the edge of the L-shaped bracket35 adjacent the outer face of the coverplate 33 as is particularly wellshown in Fig. '1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the spring50 serves to yieldingly hold the movementretaining nose 40 in engagementwith .the centerarbor 4| of the timepiece-movement 42 for the purpose ofyieldingly retaining the said timepiece-movement in themovement-positioning cavity 48 and that the said movement-retaininglever 31 is permitted to be moved outwardly away from thetimepiece-movement 42 against the tension of the spring 59 by downwardpressure being applied to the ngerpiece 39 located at the outer end ofthe said retaining-lever 31.

Extending radially outwardly and pivotally mounted for lateral movementupon the upper face of the head 2| of the body-member 20, is a beatorimpulse-frequency regulating-lever generally designated by the referencecharacter 52, the said regulating-lever being rigidly securedintermediate its opposite ends to a shaft 53. The lower end of the saidshaft 53 bears in a bearing-socket 54 formed in the upper face of thehead 2| of the body-member 20 on the Vertical axis of the latter, whilethe upper end of the said shaft has bearing in a bearing-passage 53aformed in the cover-plate 33 in line with the bearing-socket 54.

The outer arm 55 of the regulating-lever 52 extends outwardly beyond theouter periphery of the head 2| and terminates in a depending ngerpiece56. Intermediate the shaft 53 and the outer end of the said arm 55 thelatter is broadened laterally to form an enlarged portion 51 for thepurpose as will hereinafter appear. The arm 55 of the regulating-lever52 is also formed intermediate the shaft 53 and its outer end upon theunderside of the said arm 55 with a bearing-surface 58 adapted to bearupon the upper face of the head 2| adjacent the outer periphery thereofas is clearly shown in Fig. '1 of the drawings. At its inner end theregulatinglever 52 is also formed upon the underside thereof with abearing-surface 59 complemental to the bearing-surface 58 and which isalso adapted to bear upon the upper face of the head 2| as is clearlyshown in the figure just referred to. It may here be noted that theregulating-lever 52, and the parts carried thereby which will later bedescribed, is acommodated in a transverse groove 66 formed in the underface of the cover-plate 33 and which is particularly well shown in Figs.1 and 8 of the drawings.

Mounted with capacity for longitudinal reciprocating movement upon theupper face of the regulating-lever 52 is a cam-actuating bar generallydesignated by the reference character 6| which is particularly wellshown in Fig. 14 of the drawings. The said actuating-bar 6I' is formedat the end thereof adjacent the enlarged portion 51 of theregulating-lever 52, with an enlarged fiat head-like portion 62 which isadapted to slidingly bear upon the enlarged portion 51 forming part ofthe regulating-lever 52. The headlike portion 62, as may be seen byreference to Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, projects beyond the side edges ofthe enlarged portion 51 of the regulating-lever 52 for the purpose laterto be described.

Along the longitudinal axis of the actuatingbar 6| the head-like portion62 thereof is formed with a longitudinal guide-slot 63 through whichextends a guide-screw 64, the said guide-screw being threaded into theenlarged portion 51 of the regulating-lever 52. The said guide-screw 64is also formed with an enlarged retaining-head 65 which is seatedagainst the outer or upper face of the cam-actuating bar 6|. The end ofthe cam-actuating bar 6| opposite to the headlike portion 62 is alsoformed with a longitudinal guide-slot 66 through which passes aguide-screw 61 similar to the guide-screw 64 just described, and whichis threaded into the adjacent portion of the regulating-lever 52 and isformed with an enlarged retaining-head 68 seated against the upper faceof the cam-actuating bar 6I. As thus constructed and arranged, thecam-actuating bar 6| is capable of being bodily reciprocatedlongitudinally of the regulating-lever 52 by which it is slidablycarried to thus virtually form a reciprocating part of theregulating-lever 52, the guide-screws 64 and 61 controlling thedirection of reciprocating movement of the cam-actuating bar upontheupper face of the regulating-lever 52.

Intermediate its opposite ends the cam-actuating bar 6| is formed with aU-shaped offset portion 89 which results in the formation of aclearance-recess 18 located adjacent to and partially surrounding theshaft 53 by means of which the regulating-lever 52 is pivotally mountedupon the upper face of the head 2| of the bodymember 20 to thus permitthe cam-actuating bar 6| to be reciprocated upon the upperface of theregulating-lever 52.

Returning to the shaft 53 it will be noted by reference to Figs. '1, 8and 13 in particular, that the said shaft is provided intermediate itsopposite ends with an annular enlarged portion 12 adjacent the upperface of the regulating-lever 52 and of slightly greater thickness thanthe cam-actuating bar 6|. The annular enlarged portion 12 of the shaft53 has bearing upon its upper face, the lower one of twosubstantiallycorresponding horizontally-arranged cams 13 and 14 arrangedone over the other. Mounted upon the lower cam 13 is the correspondingcam 14 which is essentially the same as the lower cam 13 save that thecam 14 is'inverted with respect to the lower cam 13, both of the cams 13and 14 having bearing-passages respectively numbered 15 and 16 by meansof which the said cams 13 and 14 are pivotally mounted upon the shaft 53with freedom for turning movement with respect thereto. Each of the cams13 and 14 is respectively formed with an arcuate-cam surface 11 and 18arranged in opposition to each other as is particularly well shown inFigs. 4 to 6 inclusive.

Adjacent the shaft 53 the cams 13 and 14 have respectively rigidlysecured thereto substantially diametrically-opposite to the camsurfaces11 and 18, relatively-slender upwardlyextending complementalregulator-arm clamping-fingers 19 and 88. The upper cam 14 is providedwith a clearance-notch 8| adjacent the shaft 53 to allow theclamping-finger 19 carried by the lower cam 13 to extend upwardly pastthe upper cam 14, the said clearance-notch terminating sufficientlyclose to the clamping-finger 80 so that the clamping-fingers 19 and 80may normally be in close proximity to each other as is particularly wellshown in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings.

The clamping-fingers 19 and 80 extend upwardly perpendicularly to thecams 13 and 14 and hence the regulating-lever 52, through an arcuateslot 82 formed in the cover-plate 33 and intersecting the upper wall ofthe transverse clearance-groove 68 therein. The said arcuateslot 82 isin registration with a similar Slot 83 formed in themovement-positioning plate 46 and intersecting the movement-positioningcavity 48. The arcuate-slots 82 and 83 are struck on an arc from thecenter of the shaft 53 thus enabling the clamping-fingers 19 and 8U tobe swung around the said shaft as a center for the purpose later to bedescribed.

The clamping-fingers 19 and 80 extend upwardly through the arcuate-slots82 and 83 sufficiently into the movement-positioning cavity 48 to passthrough an arcuate clearance-slot 84 formed in the rear movement-plate44 of the timepiece-movement 42 positioned in the movement-positioningcavity 48. As thus arranged the clamping-fingers 19 and 88 are inposition to yieldingly but securely engage or clamp the respectiveopposite sides of the arm 85 of the regulator 86 of thetimepiece-movement 42 as is particularly well shown in Fig. 9 of thedrawings.

To yieldingly engage the clamping-fingers 19 and with the arm 85 of theregulator 86 of the timepiece-movement 42, the cams 13 and 14 haverespectively rigidly secured to the outer ends thereof studs 81 and 88respectively extending upwardly and downwardly from the adjacent facesof the said cams 13 and 14. To each of the studs 81 and 88 is securedthe adjacent end of one of two springs 89-89 the opposite ends of whichare jointly secured to a pin or stud 98 upwardly extending from theadjacent end of the cam-actuating bar 6|. As thus constructed andarranged the springs 89-89 constantly urge the outer ends of the cams 13and 14 toward each other or toward the longitudinal axis of thecamactuating bar 6| with the result that the clamping-fingers 19 and 88respectively positioned substantially diametrically-opposite to the pins81-88 at the outer ends of the cams 13-14 are constantly being urgedtowards each other, thus securely but yieldingly clamping theregulatorarm between them, as previously pointed out.

The clamping-lingers 19 and 80 are moved away from each other or spreadapart to allow the admittance or removal of the arm 85 of the regulator42, by a cam-actuating finger 9| `rigidly secured to the cam-actuatingbar 6| and extending upwardly therefrom to simultaneously engage theopposed cam-surfaces 11 and 18 of the cams 13 and 14 in the apex formedthereby, all of which may be seen by reference to Figs. 4 to 6inclusive. As thus constructed and arranged, the cam-actuating linger 9|will, when the camactuating bar 6| is moved from the position in whichit is shown in Fig. 4 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5,act upon the camsurfaces 11 and 18 to cause the cams 13 and 14 to moveoutwardly away from each other against the tension of the springs 89-89.As the cams 13 and 14 are moved outwardly the clampingngers 19 and 80carried thereby will also be correspondingly moved away from each othersufficiently to permit the arm 85 of the regulator 86 to be removed fromor placed between the said clamping-fingers when the timepiece-movement42 is being either positioned in the movement-positioning cavity 48 orremoved therefrom at the completion of the regulation thereof, as willbe later set forth.

To yieldingly hold the cam-actuating bar 6| in the position in which itis shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which position the cam-actuatingnger 9| is farthest removed from the shaft 53 Yand in which position theclampingngers 19 and 80 are closest to each other, the said pin 90 towhich the outer ends of the springs 89-89 are secured, has also securedthereto one end of a spring 92, the opposite end of which is secured toa stud 93 rigid with and upwardly extending from the inner end of theregulatinglever 52. The spring 92 just referred to, constantly urges thecam-actuating bar 6| and hence the cam-actuating finger 9| away from thecams 13 and 14 thus permitting the springs 89-89 to function toyieldingly hold the clamping-ngers 19 and 80 in their closed orarmengaging positions. As just pointed out, the spring 92 urges thecam-actuating bar 6| to be moved from left to right as viewed in Fig. 4of the drawings to the limit imposed thereon by the engagement of oneend of the guide-slot 66 with the guide-screw 61 in which position thecam-actuating bar 9| is shown in the figure just referred to.

To move the cam-actuating bar 6| against the tension of the spring 92from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4 to that in which it isshown in Fig. 5, the clearance-groove 60 formed in the underside of thecover-plate 33 and in which the regulating-lever 52 and cam-actuatingbar 6| and the parts carried thereby are located, has slidably mountedtherein a clamping-fingeractuating or movement-transmitting slidegenerally designated by the reference character 94. The saidtransmitting-slide 94 is retained in place with capacity forlongitudinal sliding movement by two corresponding retaining-plates95-95 which are seated against shoulders 96-96 one of which islongitudinally formed upon each of the respective opposite sides of thegroove 69. The said shoulders 96-99 extend from the outer periphery ofthe cover-plate 33 to a point just beyond the vertical axis thereof andare formed by widening the groove 60 as at 91-9'|, the retaining-plates95-95 being held seated against the shoulders 96-96 by means of screws98.

The actuatingor transmitting-slide 94 is centrally cut away to form aclearance-opening 99 through which the shaft 53 extends and within whichthe cams 13 and 14 are located, and is also formed at its outer edgewith a nger |09 against which bears the lower end |9| of aslideactuating arm |02 depending from and pivotally mounted upon thepivot-screw 38 upon which is also pivotally mounted themovement-retaining lever 31 as previously described. Adjacent its inneredge, the actuatingor transmitting-slide 94 is provided with a pair ofcam-engaging studs |03 depending from the underside thereof and adaptedupon occasion to engage with the inner edges "B4-|04 of the head-likeportion 62 of the cam-actuating bar 6| when the actuatingortransmitting-slide 94 is moved inwardly into the position in which it isshown in Fig. of the drawings, in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

The cam-engaging studs |63 upon engaging the inner edges U14-I4 of thehead-like portion 62 cause the cam-actuating bar 6| to be moved from theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, tocorrespondingly move the cam-actuating nger 9| carried thereby into theposition shown in Fig. 5. This movement causes the cam-actuating finger9| to swing the cams 13 and 14 outwardly away from each other toseparate the clamping-fingers 19 and 80 for the release and subsequentremoval of the arm 85 of the regulator 86 or for the insertion of thesaid arm to permit the same to be clamped or gripped by theclamping-fingers, as has been previously described.

To yieldingly hold the actuatingor transmitting-slide 94 in its retiredposition, the said slide is provided adjacent its outer edge with a pairof depending studs IUS- |05 to each of which is secured the adjacent endof one of two springs |06|09 the opposite ends of which are secured to apair of downwardly-extending studs |01- |01 rigidly secured to thecover-plate 33 and located within the clearance-groove 60 formed in theunder face of the said cover-plate 33.

To move the transmitting-slide 94 inwardly against the tension of thesprings |06-|06, the ngerpiece 39 of the movement-retaining lever 31 isdepressed against the tension of the spring to cause a shoulder |08formed in the lower edge of the said movement-retaining lever to engagewith a pin |09 projecting inwardly from the adjacent face of theslide-actuating arm |02, to thus cause the said arm to be turned aboutthe pivot-screw 38. The turning movement of the slide-actuating arm |02as just described, will cause the depending-end |0| thereof which latterpasses downwardly through a clearanceslot ||0 formed in the upper wallof the clearance-groove in the cover-plate 33, to move inwardly to thusslidingly move the actuatingor transmitting-slide 94 inwardly againstthe tension of the springs IUS-|06. This inward movement of thetransmitting-slide 94 will cause the cam-engaging studs |03 carried atthe inner edge of the said transmitting slide to engage with the edges|04|04 of the head 62 as previously described, to effect the slidingmovement of the cam-actuating bar 6|, which movement will effect thespreading -apart of the clampingngers 19 and 80 as previously set forth,

Upon release of downward pressure upon the ngerpiece 39 of themovement-retaining lever 31, it will of course be understood that thesprings IDG- |06 will retire the actuatingor transmitting-slide 94sufficiently to permit the spring 92, previously described, to move thecamactuating bar 6| and hence the cam-actuating nger 9| carried therebyinwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 to that inwhich it is shown in Fig. 4. This movement will retire the saidcam-actuating finger 9| away from the cams 13-14 to thus permit theclamping-fingers 19 and 80 to be moved towards each other to clamp orengage the arm of the regulator 86 between them as has been previouslydescribed.

It will be clearly understood from the foregoing that when the ngerpiece39 of the movement-retaining lever 31 is depressed to the limit of itsdownward movement, the retaining-nose 40 of the latter will be raisedenabling a timepiecemovement to be regulated to be inserted and properlypositioned in the movement-positioning cavity 48 as previouslydescribed. This full downward movement of the ngerpiece 39 will alsocause the slide-actuating arm |02 to slidingly move the actuatingortransmitting-slide 94 inwardly to engage the cam-engaging studs |03- |03thereof with the head-like portion 62 of the cam-actuating bar 6| tomove the said bar outwardly. The outward movement of the bar 6| willcause the clamping-fingers 19 and 80 to be moved away from each other ashas been previously described for the reception between them of the arm85 of the regulator 86 forming part of the timepiece-movement to beregulated.

Upon the removal of downward pressure on the iingerpiece 39, the springsIUE-|06 and 92 will assert themselves to respectively move theactuatingor transmitting-slide 94 and the camactuating bar 6| into theirnormal or retired positions to thus permit the springs 89-89 to move theclamping-fingers 19 and 80 inwardly towards each other for the grippingof the arm 85 between them. The removal of downward pressure on thengerpiece 39 will also enable the spring 50, secured to theretaining-lever 31, to assert itself to move the retaining-nose 40thereof downwardly into retaining engagement with the center arbor 4| ofthe timepiece-movement.

With the arm 85 of the regulator 80 yieldingly but securely clampedbetween the clampingfingers 19 and 80, the regulating-lever 52 may beswung from its normal or central position laterally in either directionto correspondingly move the arm 85 into its fast or slow position tothus cause the regulator 86 to correspondingly shorten or lengthen thehairspring III of the timepiece-movement 42 in the usual manner ofwatches, etc. It will thus be seen that the regulating-lever 52 may bemoved laterally a degree suicient to shorten or lengthen the hairspringI| I the necessary degree for proper timekeeping of the particulartimepiece movement being regulated. After being tested in one positionwith or without the aid of an electric device to be later referred to,the watch-movement may be turned into other positions for testing byturning the body-member 20 in the supporting-ring 23, by turning thesaid supporting-ring with respect to the mounting-posts 28 and 29, andby combining such turning movements.

After the hairspring III has been brought to the necessary length forthe proper timekeeping of the timepiece-movement, the ngerpiece 39 isdepressed only enough to bring the shoulder |08 formed on themovement-retaining lever 31 into engagement with the pin |09 carried bythe slideactuating arm |02 which degree of movement is sufficient toraise the retaining-nose 40 enough to enable the now regulated oradjusted timepiece-movement 42 to be removed from themovement-positioning cavity 48. After the removal of thetimepiece-movement continued downward movement of the iingerpiece 39will, through the chain of parts |02, 94, 6|, 9| and 13 and 14, move theclamping-iingers 19 and 80 away from each other sufficiently to permitthe reception between them of the regulator arm 85 of the nextsucceeding timepiece-movement to be regulated, all in a manner describedin more detail hereinafter.

The continued downward movement of the Iingerpiece 39, as just abovedescribed, will through the slide-actuating arm |02 and the slide 94,cause one of the two cam-engaging studs |03 when the transmitting-slide94 is moved inwardly, to engage with the adjacent one of two arcuatecams II2-I I3 forming the inner edge of the enlarged portion 51 of theregulating-lever 52. As the actuatingor transmitting-slide 94 is movedinwardly, the cam-engaging stud |03 adjacent the arcuate cam 4I I2(which position is shown in full lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings) willcoact with the said cam |I2 to laterally move the regulating-lever 52 onthe shaft 53 as a pivot inwardly towards its central or normalposition.I With the regulating-lever in its central position, theenlarged portion 51 of the said regulatinglever is brought intoregistration with the gap between the cam-engaging studs |03-|03, thuspermitting the said cam-engaging studs on continued movement ofthe slide94 to ride off the arcuate cams II 2-II 3 and engage the inner edges |04ofthe head-like portion 82 of the camactuating bar 6I. Further continuedinward movement of the transmitting-slide 94 will, through theintermediary of the cam-engaging studs |03-|03, move the cam-actuatingbar BI into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings,for eiecting the separation of the clamping-fingers 19 and 80 to enablethe said clamping-fingers to receive the arm of the regulator 86 of atimepiece-movement as previously described.

It will thus be seen that in the event of the operator failing to movethe regulating-lever 52 into its neutral or central position after thecompletion of the regulation of a timepiecemovement, that upon theoperator fully depressing the i'lngerpiece 39 for the insertion ofanother timepiece-movement to be regulated, the regulating-lever 52 willbe broughtback into its normal or central position prior to theseparation of the clamping-lingers 19 and 80. It may here be noted thatthe separation of the clamping-lingers is of a suicient degree toreceive the arm 85 of the regulator 86 of a timepiece movement even inthe event that the said arm is in a position other than its centralposition thus eliminating the otherwise necessary preliminarypositioning of the said arm.

For the purpose of rapidly determining the amount necessary to move thearm 85 of the regulator 85 to obtain the proper length of the hairspringIII, the body-member 20 is provided with an eccentrically-locatedmicrophone-receiving recess I4 within which is positioned a crystalmicrophone or other suitable vibration pick-up device II5. Themicrophone ||5 is yieldingly held in place within the recess II4 byresilient packing IIB interposed between the under side of the saidmicrophone and a closure-plate II1 (Fig. 2) securely attached to thebottom of the body-member 20 by screws I I 8.

Centrally located with respect to the microphone recess II4 and upwardlyextending therefrom, is `a clearance-passage I I9 which receives withcapacity for longitudinal reciprocating movement, abeat-frequency-transmitting rod or plunger |20. The said rod or plungeris of sufcient length to pass upwardly through the clearance-groove 60formed in the cover-plate 33 to one side of the regulating-lever 52 andupwardly through the clearance-'opening 99 formed in thetransmitting-slide 94. The upper 'end of the said rod or plunger passesthrough a guide-passage I2I intersecting the movement-receiving cavity48 and the clearance-groove 60.

The upper end of the beat-frequency-transmitting rod or plunger |20abuts against the under side of the rear movement-plate 44 of thetimepiece-movement 42 closely adjacent to the escape-wheel (not shown)forming part of the customary escapeinent of a timepiece-movement. Atits lower end, the frequency-transmitting rod or plunger |20 is formedwith an enlarged cylindrical head |22 positioned in an enlarged portion|23 or" the clearance-passage H9, the said enlarged portion |23 openingdownwardly into the microphone-receiving recess II4. As clearly shown inFig. 8 of the drawings, the enlarged head |22 oi thefrequency-transmitting rod |20 is seated against and in contact Withthecrystal microphone ||5.

As shown particularly well in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, themicrophone-receiving recess ||4 is provided at one side thereof with alongitudinal cable-receiving groove |24 which is in registration with anopening |25 in the closureplate The longitudinal groove |24 receives aflexible shielded cable |26 which is electrically connected to thecrystal microphone ||5 and to any suitable indicating device such, forinstance, as a cathode-ray tube or other suitable rating device by meansof which the beat of the escapement of the timepiece-movement 42 may becompared to a predetermined standard beat-irequency.

It will thus be seen that the beat of the escapement forming part of thetime-piece movement 42 will be transmitted through thebeat-frequency-transmitting rod or plunger ||9 to the crystal microphone||5 which, in turn, transmits the said beat through the shielded cable|26 to an oscillograph or the like, whereby the beat of the escapementmay be compared to a standard beat-frequency to Idetermine whether theescapement is running fast or slow. The operator may now manipulate theregulating-lever 52, increasing or decreasing the length of thehair-spring ||I the required degree to bring the beat of the escapementin synchronism with the predetermined standard beat-frequency, afterwhich the timepiece-movement may be removed, as previously described.

When the timepiece-movement 42 is in place and securely held, aspreviously described, the manipulation of the regulating-lever, abovereferred to, will shift the regulator of the said timepiece-movement asdesired by the operator, to properly regulate the timepiece-movement.After one test has been made, the body-member 20, together with thetimepiece-movement, may be turned, before the said timepiece is removed,into a variety of other positions by being either rotated about its ownaxis or upon being turned about a horizontal axis by the hand-wheel 32previously described, into a variety of vertical and horizontalpositions and other readings made to determine whether these changes inposition aff-ect the timekeeping property of the timepiecemovement justpreviously adjusted.

It will thus be seen that with the regulatingdevice illustrated in thedrawings and just described, timepiece-movements may be readily,eiectively and accurately regulated, and that the same may be -adjust-edor regulated when they are in a variety of positions substantiallycorresponding to positions and movements to Which they may be subjectedwhen in use.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A device for regulating timepieces having a movable regulator,comprising: a movementholder; beat-frequency pick-up means associatedwith the said movement-holder; s'hiftable regulator-engaging meanscarried by the said movement-holder and supported thereby forengagementl with the movable regulator of a time- "16 piece being testedwhereby the said regulator may be adjusted; guide-means also carried bythe said movement-holder and guiding the said regulator-engaging meansin a predetermined path of movement; and movement-locating meansassociated with the said movementholder and locating a timepiece beingtestedV in predetermined oriented position with respect to the saidregulator-engaging means carried by the said movement-holder.

2. A device for regulating timepieces having a movable regulator,comprising: a movementholder; releasable-means for retaining atimepiece-movement in the said movement-holder; beat-frequency pick-upmeans associated with the said movement-holder; regulator-engaging meanscarried by the said movement-holder and held thereby in position forreleasable engagement with the movable regulator of the timepiece beingtested independently of and supplemental to the action of the aforesaidmeans for retaining the timepiece-movement; and means releasably holdingthe said regulator-engaging means in operative relationship with respectto the regulator of the said timepiece.

3. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder;releasable-means for retaining a timepiece-movement in place in the saidmovement-holder; regulator-engaging means carried by the saidmovement-holder and held thereby in position for releasable engagementwith the regulator of the timepiecemovement being tested for shiftingthe same; sound-responsive beat-frequency pick-up means associated withthe said movement-holder and responding to the sound produced by thebeat of the escapement of the timepiece-movement in the saidmovement-holder, to enable the frequency of the beat to be compared witha standard beat-frequency; and means releasably holding the saidregulator-engaging means in operative relationship with respect to theregulator of the said timepiece.

4. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a mounting-frame; amovement-holder tiltably connected to the said mounting-frame;releasable-means for retaining a timepiecemovement in place in the saidmovement-holder; regulator-engaging means carried by the saidmovement-holder and held thereby in position for releasable engagementwith the regulator of the timepiece-movement being tested for shiftingthe same; beat-frequency pick-up means movable with the saidmovement-holder and responding to the beat of the escapement of thetimepiece-movement; in the said movement-holder, to enable the frequencyof the beat to be compared with a standard beatfrequency; and meansreleasably holding `the said regulator-engaging means in operativerelationship with respect to the regulator of the said timepiece.

5. A 'device for regulating timepieces comprising: a mounting-frame; aholder-carrier pivoted to the said mounting-frame; a movable-holderconnected to the said holder-carrier with capacity for turning movementwith respect thereto about an axis which is substantially perpendicularwith vrespect to the axis about which the said holder-carrier tilts withrespect to the said mounting-frame; releasable-means for retaining atimepiece-movement in place in the said movement-holder;Aregulator-engaging means carried by the said movement-holder and heldthereby in position for releasable engagement with the regulator ofthe'timepiece being tested for shifting the same; beat-frequency pick-upmeans carried by the said movementholder and responding to the beat ofthe escapement of the timepiece-movement in the said movement-holder, toenable the frequency of the beat to be compared with a standardbeattrequency; and means releasably holding the said regulator-engagingmeans in operative relationship with respect to the regulator of thesaid timepiece.

6. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder;mounting-means pivotally connected to the said movement-holder andconstructed and arranged to permit the said movement-holder to be turnedabout two distinct axes, respectively substantially perpendicular withrespect to each other; releasable-means for retaining atimepiece-movement in place in the said movement-holder;manually-operable regulator-engaging means movable independently of thesaid releasable-means and carried by the said movement-holder and heldthereby in position for releasable engagement with the regulator of thetimepiece-movement being tested for shifting the same; beat-frequencypick-up means associated with the said movement-holder and responding tothe beat of the escapement of the timepiece-movement in the saidmovement-holder to enable the frequency of the beat to be compared witha standard beat-frequency; and means releasably holding the saidregulator-engaging means in operative relationship with respect to theregulator of the said timepiece.

'7. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder;releasable-means for retaining a timepiece-movement in place in the saidmovement-holder; mounting-means for the said movement-holder constructedand arranged t permit the said movement-holder to be turned with respectto the-said mounting-means about two distinct axes, respectivelysubstantially perpendicular with respect to each other; manuallyoperableregulator-engaging means carried by and turnable with the saidmovement-holder.

and held thereby in position for releasable engagement with theregulatorof the timepiecemovement being tested for shifting the same; and meansreleasably holding the said regulatorengaging means in operativerelationship with respect to the regulator of the said timepiece.

8. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder; ashiftable jaw-carrier carried by the said movement-holder; a pair ofclamping jaws connected to the said jawcarrier with capacity for jointmovement therewith and for movement toward and away from each otherrelative to the said jaw-carrier and constructed and arranged to gripbetween them the regulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the saidmovement-holder; means holding the said jaw-carrier and the saidclamping-jaws in place with respect to the said movementholder andmaintaining the said clamping-jaws in operative relationship withrespect to the regulator of a timepiece; and means also 0rganized wtihthe said movement-holder for moving the said clamping-jaws toward andaway from each other to respectively grip and release the regulator of atimepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder.

9. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder; ashiftable jaw-carrier organized with the said movement-holder;

a pair of clamping-jaws connected to the said jaw-carrier with capacityfor movement therewith and for movement toward and away from each otherrelative to the said jaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to gripbetween them the regulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the saidmovement-holder; means holding the said jaw-carrier and the saidclamping-jaws in place with respect to the said movementholder andmaintaining the said clamping-jaws in operative relationship .withrespect to the regulator of a timepiece; spring-means yieldingly urgingthe said clamping-jaws toward each other and means also organized withthe said movement-holder for separating the said clamping-jaws againstthe tension of the said springmeans to place the said clamping-jaws inposition to receive between them the regulator of a timepiece-movementcarried by the said movement-holder.

1G. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder;releasable-means for retaining a timepiece-movement in the saidmovement-holder; a shiftable jaw-carrier;. a pair of clamping-jawsconnected to the said jawcarrier with capacity for movement therewithand for movement toward and away from each other relative to the saidjaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to grip between them theregulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder;and an operative connection between the aforesaid releasablemeans andthe said clamping-jaws and constructed and arranged to open the saidclamping-jaws to receive between them the regulator of atimepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder when the saidreleasablemeans is retired.

Vll. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder;releasable-means for retaining a timepiece-movement in the saidmovement-holder; a shiftable jaw-carrier; a pair of clamping-jawsconnected to the said jaw-carrier with capacity for movement therewithand for movement toward and away from each other relative to the saidjaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to grip between them theregulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder;spring-means yieldingly urging the said clamping-jaws toward each other;and operating-means operatively interconnecting the saidreleasable-means with the said clamping-jaws and constructed andarranged to separate the said jaws when the said releasable-means ismoved in a direction for releasing a timepiece-movement carried by thesaid movement-holder.

12. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holder;releasable-means for retaining a timepiece-movement in the saidmovement-holder; a shiftable jaw-carrier; a pair of clamping-jawsconnected to the said jaw-carrier with capacity for movement therewithand for movement toward and away from each other relative to the saidjaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to grip between them theregulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder;and lost-motion connecting-means operatively interposed between the saidreleasable-means and the said clamping-jaws and constructed and arrangedto permit the said releasable-means to be retired partially withoutactuating the said clampingjaws and to transmit the further movement ofthe'. said releasable-means to the said clampingjaws for separating thesame.

13. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a movement-holderreleasable-means for retaining a timepiece-movement in the saidmovement-holder; a shiftable jaw-carrier; a pair of clamping-jawsconnected to the said jaw-carrier with capacity for movement therewithand for movement toward and away from eachl other relative to the saidjaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to grip the regulator of atimepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder, between them;spring-means yieldingly urging the said clamping-jaws toward"reachother; and lost-motion connectingmeans operatively interposedbetween the said releasable-means and the said clamping-jaws andconstructed and arranged to permit the said releasable-means to beretired partially without actuating the said clamping-jaws and totransmit, the further movement of the said releasablemeans tothe saidclamping-jaws for separating the same against the tension of the saidspringmeans.

14. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: mounting-means; amovement-holder connected'. to the said mounting-means with capacity fortilting movementI with respect thereto; releasable-means for retaining atimepiecemovement in place in the said movement-holder for tiltingmovement therewith with respect to the said mounting-means; a shiftablejaw-carrier carried by the said movement-holder; a pair of clamping-jawsconnected to the said jawcarrier with capacity for movement therewithand for movement toward and away from each other relative to the saidjaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to grip between them theregulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder;means holding the said jaw-carrier and the said clamping-jaws in placewith respect to the said movement-holder and maintaining the saidclamping-jaws in operative relationship with respect to the regulator ofa timepiece; and means also carried by the said movement-holder andconstructed and arranged to move the said clamping-jaws toward and awayfrom each other to respectively grip andarelease the regulator of atimepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder.

115. A- device for regulating timepieces comprising: mounting-means; amovement-holder connected to the' said mounting-means with capacity fortilting movement with respect thereto; releasable-means for retaining atime-piecemovement in place in the said movement-holder for tiltingmovement therewith with respect to the said mounting-means; a shiftablejaw-carrier carried by the said movement-holder; a pair of clamping-jawsconnected to the said jaw-carrier with capacity for movement therewithand for movement toward and away from each other relative to the saidjaw-carrier, and constructed and arranged to grip between them theregulator of a timepiece-movement carried by the said movement-holder;spring-means yieldinglyurging the said clamping-jaws toward each other;and connecting-means operatively interposedl between the saidreleasable-means and the said clamping-jaws and constructed and arrangedto open the said clamping-jaws against the tension of the saidspring-means when the said releasable-means is moved into its retiredposition.

16. A device for regulating timepieces comprising: a mounting-frame; aholder-carrier pivoted to the said mounting-frame; a movement-holderpivoted to the said holder-carrier with capacity for turning movementwith respect thereto about an axis which is substantially perpendicularwith respect to the axis about which the said holder-carrier tilts withrespect to the said mounting-frame; releasablemeans for retaining atimepiece-movement in the said movement-holder; a shiftable jaw-carriercarried by the said movement-holder; a pair of clamping-jaws carried bythe said jaw-carrier with capacity for movement therewith and formovement toward and away from each other relative to the saidjaw-carrier and constructed and arranged to grip the regulator of atimepiecemovement carried by the said movement-holder, between them;spring-means urging the said clamping-jaws toward each other; andlostmotion connecting-means operatively interposed between the saidreleasable-means and the said clamping-jaws and constructed and arrangedto separate the said clamping-jaws from each other when the saidreleasable-means is moved into its retired position.

WALTER KOHLHAGEN.

